The viral infection can cause respiratory disease, abortion, death in newborn foals and be a very serious neurological disease. The virus does not affect people.

As of Thursday, no other horses at New York racetracks or at Vernon Downs have been reported to have EHV-1.

The Department of Agriculture and Markets has implemented a 28-day quarantine period. No horses will be permitted to ship in or out of Vernon Downs until 28 days after the Department of Agriculture and Markets has determined that the infected horses stop showing symptoms of EHV-1.

Two barns at Vernon Downs are under strict quarantine and the only persons permitted to enter these barns are horse caretakers assigned to those barns. Horses in these barns are prohibited from racing or training on the track. These barns will remain under strict quarantine until 28 days after the last signs of EHV-1 are seen in their populations.

This weekend's racing will be restricted to those horses currently stabled in quarantine at Vernon Downs, excluding the horses in secured quarantine within the stable area.

All horses racing will have their temperature taken prior to entering the paddock. Those horses with a temperature in excess of 101.5 will be denied entry to the paddock and excluded from competition.